International physiologists mark post-genomic resurgence March 31-April 5 in San Diego

Bethesda, MD (March 10) – The 35th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS http://www.iups2005.org/) convenes in San Diego, March 31-April 5, 2005.

IUPS 2005 is organized by the six member societies of the U.S. National Committee of the IUPS, the American Physiological Society, the Society for Neuroscience, the Microcirculatory Society, the Society of General Physiologists, the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, under the auspices of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

The IUPS Congress, which occurs every four years, is being held in conjunction with Experimental Biology 2005 (April 2-6) at the San Diego Convention Center. Over 16,000 biomedical researchers -- from undergraduate students to Nobel Laureates -- are scheduled to attend the joint meetings, including more than 2,200 scientists from outside the United States. The IUPS program includes 75 symposia, 49 featured topics, 20 major lectures and over 3,000 research paper presentations.

"The American Physiological Society is pleased to host the 35th Congress of IUPS and to welcome scientists from nearly 80 nations representing all the continents to San Diego," stated Dr. Shu Chien, chair of the IUPS 2005 National Organizing Committee, who is also an APS past president and professor of Bioengineering and Medicine at the University of California at San Diego.

Resurgence of physiology in post-genomic era

Dr. Allen W. Cowley Jr., IUPS President, noted that the Congress – whose theme is "From Genomes to Functions" – is "a remarkable event that emphasizes the continued strength and the resurgence of the physiological sciences in this post-genomic era.

"A great breadth of research will be presented at this meeting represented by the Scientific Commissions of the IUPS including Locomotion, Circulation-Respiration, Endocrine Reproduction-Development, Senses, Secretion-Absorption, Neural Control, Comparative Physiology (Evolution, Adaptation, Environment), Genomics and Biodiversity," said Cowley, who is an APS past president, professor and chair of the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and editor of Physiological Genomics.

"The themes and presentations of this meeting reflect the growing recognition of the important role that physiology plays in modern biomedical research and the ever increasing awareness and importance of international research collaborations," Cowley said.

Added Chien: "The IUPS program will foster integrative approaches from genes/molecules to cells/tissues to organs/systems, and from physiological research to medical application, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the health and well-being of people."

The IUPS Congress "represents an opportunity for scientists from around the world to share the most-up-to-the minute research findings with their colleagues," Cowley said, adding: "This exchange of ideas is the heart of the meeting."

The first International Congress of Physiological Sciences was held in Basle, Switzerland in 1889, and the last time IUPS was in the U.S. was in 1968 in Washington, D.C.

Source: Eurekalert & others

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